5 skills for being a great boss

Whether you’ve just been promoted or it’s you’re first time taking the lead on a project, you may be wondering how to best engage your team. After all, we generally hear more about terrible bosses than good ones.

But while some people are natural leaders, without self-reflection and practicing good supervision techniques, their innate abilities may never blossom into great managerial traits. Here are five tips to being an effective, amazing boss.

Get to know your team
Don’t pry into your staff’s personal lives. Do let them voice their opinions on projects or process. Whether they share their creative ideas or vent about a client, giving them the space to be open will help you identify strengths and weaknesses.

Give feedback
While it’s not always possible to give someone feedback on every project they complete, the more you do it, the more consistent the employee will become. Even if it’s tips for improvement, employees would rather know if something was done poorly right away than to wait months to hear about it during a review.

Reward great work
People love to be praised and the more we get it, the more we want it. So if someone on your team does a stellar job, try buying their next cup of coffee or treating them to lunch. The more you reward great work, the more you will get it.

Build trust
It’s important for employees to feel like they can trust their boss. So, aside from having an open door policy and reminding your team they can speak with you about anything at any time, try giving your team company updates as they become available. By being completely transparent with them, you will gain their trust.

Create synergy within your team
It may not be possible for everyone on your team to be buddies, but it is important to create positive experiences among them to help build synergy. Whether it’s through team building exercises or retreats, it’s crucial to ensure your team is getting along. A happy team is a productive one. Addressing misunderstandings or tension immediately will help you earn your team’s respect.

Belo Cipriani is an award-winning author, former staffing professional, a spokesperson for Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Writer-in-Residence at Holy Names University. Learn more at BeloCipriani.com.